APM’s cabinet receives mixed reactions

The composition of the first full cabinet of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led administration under the second tenure of President Arthur Peter Mutharika has drawn mixed reactions from gender and youth rights activists as well as the public.

In the 24-member cabinet, which comprises the president, first vice president, and second vice president, six females, all Members of Parliament, have been appointed, with five taking positions of full ministers while one is a deputy.

Those appointed include Roza Mbilizi Fachi, who will head the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development, Madalitso Baloyi, who will lead the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and Mary Navicha, who is responsible for the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability, and Social Welfare.

Others include Jean Mathanga for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining, Patricia Wiskes for the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture, and Martha Ngwira, who will serve as a deputy in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability, and Social Welfare.

However, the six, representing 29 percent, are short of the Gender Equality Act requirement as well as the 50-50 campaign aspirations.

Section 11 of the Gender Equality Act requires an appointing or recruiting authority in the public service to appoint not less than 40 percent and no more than 60 percent of either sex in any department in the public service.

The number also represents a decline in women’s representation in the cabinet from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)-led government. In his final cabinet, MCP President Lazarus Chakwera appointed 12 women in his 29-member cabinet, representing 41 percent.

Commenting on the appointments, gender rights activist Carol Mvalo has described the numbers as minimal at a time when they are expecting equal representation, which they have long advocated for.

“The numbers are very minimal considering that we are looking at 50-50. I think this is a missed opportunity for the leadership because we expected at this point to have quite a few good numbers of women in leadership positions,” Mvalo said.

She added, “We would really love to see more numbers in the cabinet. We have been advocating for 40-60 as an implementation to the Gender Equality Act of 2013, and it is unfortunate that we still see women’s numbers on the lower side.”

While faulting the low female representation, Mvalo has, however, expressed excitement that some of the appointed females will be leading big ministries.

“Yes, the numbers are low, but we still appreciate that some females will lead big ministries. For example, the agriculture ministry, which male ministers have usually led, now has a female minister. It is also pleasing that the Ministry of Gender, which addresses gender issues, is being led by a woman. We are hoping that in the near future, we will get there,” Mvalo said.

On its part, the Women Manifesto Movement, while commending the president for not only including women in the cabinet but also appointing women in some key leadership positions, notes that the cabinet falls short of equal representation and calls on the president to take urgent action to meet the 40 percent threshold.

“As we praise these positive developments, we call upon the president to uphold the law by committing to the 40-60 provision, target key decision-making roles in fulfilling the 40 percent quota, and champion a national agenda for gender parity,” Maggie Kathewera Banda, Chairperson of NGO Gender Coordination Network, said in a statement on behalf of the movement.

The cabinet, which Mutharika promised to be lean and has lived up to his words, is also comprised of youthful ministers, including Minister of State Alfred Gangata, Baloyi of Health, and Wiskes of Youth, just to mention a few.

Mzuzu Youth Caucus Chairperson Gomezgani Nkhoma said while there are few youthful faces, their presence is something that has to be lauded.

“At least, we have several young people, which is a good start considering that the president has just constituted his first cabinet. We would like to have several young people in the cabinet and not only in the cabinet but in state agencies and institutions because the country’s development blueprint is youth-centric,” Nkhoma said.

“But we believe that the few individuals who are there will do the much-needed job to represent young people and push for the achievement of the aspirations and visions of young people,” he added.

On his part, Christopher Nyirenda, a Mzuzu resident, has described the composition as fair.

“But not that fair to my expectations. I was expecting young people to be in good numbers because the government’s focus must be on youth as owners of development. Maybe in the future they can review the number. Gender representation is also not balanced,” Nyirenda said.

Another resident, Rafaela Kamkota, is of the view that young people and women have been well represented, although she has some reservations on youth representation.

“We are well represented, only those who have been appointed, yes, they are youthful, but if we go by the definition of who young people are by age, we will find that they are not, and there, we have a gap and I think, we should improve on that,” Kamkota said.

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